Communication system

ABSTRACT

A communication system including a plurality of terminals; and a switchboard connected to the terminals, includes a means for causing each of the terminals to register an identifier and an address of the terminal itself in the switchboard; a means for, when one of the terminals transmits a request of transmitting a list of the terminals connected to the switchboard, causing the switchboard to transmit the list of the terminals to the terminal that transmits the request; a means for, when the terminal that transmits the request selects one of the terminals from the list and transmits the identifier of the selected terminal to the switchboard, causing the switchboard to transmit the address of the selected terminal to the terminal that transmits the request; and a means for causing the terminal that transmits the request to establish a communication with the selected terminal using the received address and a default port number.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/963,475, filed on Dec. 21, 2007, which claims priority from JapanesePatent Application No. 2006-349591, filed on Dec. 26, 2006, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by thisreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a communication system including aplurality of terminals and a switchboard connected to the terminals, anda communication method for the communication system.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, communication means have diversified. Not only conventionallyknown voice communication but also various communication means such asvideo communication, character communication (e.g., mail communication,instant message communication, and chat communication), file sharingcommunication, whiteboard sharing communication, and application sharingcommunication have been used as the communication means. Furthermore, a“peer-to-peer (P2P)” model in which terminals directly communicate witheach other to exchange terminal information has been on the rise toreplace a “server-client model” in which the communication meanscontrols information (such as positions (addresses), communicationcapabilities and the like of terminals) on terminals such as aswitchboard and a server at one location in a centralized manner.

Communication software compliant with the P2P model (hereinafter, “P2Pcommunication software”) has spread widely because of its convenienceand its high functional improvement speed. P2P communication relatedtechniques are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open Nos. 2003-348244, 2004-046419, 2004-304666, 2004-320289,2004-320629, and 2006-020048.

Generally, requirements to support the various communication means arehigh even for a switchboard designed to be compliant with theserver-client model. However, a functional improvement speed ofswitchboard software is disadvantageously and unavoidably lower thanthat of P2P model communication software since it is necessary to securesufficient design and evaluation periods so as to prevent an influenceon existing switchboard functions.

Meanwhile, both the switchboard software and the P2P communicationsoftware tend to adopt LAN lines using an IP network as a maincommunication pathway, which provides an environment that facilitatescooperation between the both software.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to easily mountvarious new communication means in a switchboard compliant with aserver-client model by interlocking the switchboard (or switchboardsoftware) with general-purpose communication software compliant with aP2P model by simple mechanism.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda communication system including a plurality of terminals; and aswitchboard connected to the terminals, comprising: means for causingeach of the terminals to register an identifier and an address of theterminal itself in the switchboard; means for, when one of the terminalstransmits a request of transmitting a list of the terminals connected tothe switchboard, causing the switchboard to transmit the list of theterminals to the terminal that transmits the request; means for, whenthe terminal that transmits the request selects one of the terminalsfrom the list and transmits the identifier of the selected terminal tothe switchboard, causing the switchboard to transmit the address of theselected terminal to the terminal that transmits the request; and meansfor causing the terminal that transmits the request to establish acommunication with the selected terminal using the received address anda default port number.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda communication system including a plurality of terminals; and aswitchboard connected to the terminals, comprising: means for causingeach of the terminals to register an identifier and an address of theterminal itself and a port number corresponding to each communicationtype in the switchboard; means for, when one of the terminals transmitsa request of transmitting a list of the terminals connected to theswitchboard, causing the switchboard to transmit the list of theterminals to the terminal that transmits the request; means for, whenthe terminal that transmits the request selects one of the terminalsfrom the list and transmits the identifier of the selected terminal andthe communication type to the switchboard, causing the switchboard totransmit the address of the selected terminal and the port numbercorresponding to the communication type of the selected terminal to theterminal that transmits the request; and means for causing the terminalthat transmits the request to establish a communication with theselected terminal using the received address and the received portnumber.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda communication system including a plurality of terminals, the terminalsincluding a first terminal and a second terminal; and a switchboardconnected to the terminals, comprising: means for causing each of theterminals to register an identifier and an address of the terminalitself and a port number corresponding to each communication type in theswitchboard; means for causing the first terminal to inquire theswitchboard about a possible communication method, the address, and theport number of the second terminal while the first terminal is holding avoice communication with the second terminal; means for causing theswitchboard to transmit the possible communication method, the address,and the port number of the second terminal to the first terminal; andmeans for causing the first terminal to establish a communication withthe second terminal using the address and the port number received fromthe switchboard by a communication method included in the possiblecommunication method received from the switchboard.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda communication system including a plurality of terminals, the terminalsincluding a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal; anda switchboard connected to the terminals, comprising: means for causingeach of the terminals to register an identifier and an address of theterminal itself and a port number corresponding to each communicationtype in the switchboard; means for causing the first terminal to inquirethe switchboard about a possible communication method, the address, andthe port number of the third terminal equal in user to the secondterminal while the first terminal is holding a voice communication withthe second terminal; means for causing the switchboard to transmit thepossible communication method, the address, and the port number of thethird terminal to the first terminal; and means for causing the firstterminal to establish a communication with the third terminal using theaddress and the port number received from the switchboard by acommunication method included in the possible communication methodreceived from the switchboard.

The communication system according to the fourth aspect of the presentinvention may further comprise: means for detecting that a communication(or the voice communication) between the first terminal and the secondterminal is finished; and means for finishing the communication betweenthe first terminal and the third terminal if the communication betweenthe first terminal and the second terminal is finished.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda communication system comprising: means for registering a LAN lineterminal in a switchboard; means for causing a voice terminal to start avoice conference communication; means for receiving a videocommunication start instruction from a video terminal of a user; meansfor causing the video terminal to acquire information on all conferencecommunication partners with which the voice terminal holds thecommunication based on user IDs received from the switchboard; means forcausing the video terminal to accept a user's selection of acommunication partner from a list of the conference communicationpartners; and means for causing switchboard terminal software of thevideo terminal to transmit an address of a communication partner for avideo communication with which the voice terminal is holding a voicecommunication until the video communication with all the conferencecommunication partners holding the video communication is established,and for causing video communication software of the video terminal toestablish the video communication with the communication partner of thevoice terminal.

According to the present invention, various communication means can beeasily added to a voice terminal of a switchboard by using existing P2Pcommunication software.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of acommunication system according to first to sixth embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a voice and video terminal shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a switchboard shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a memoryshown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary configuration of adatabase shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing user setting data for terminalsoftware shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing operation performed by the communicationsystem according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing operation performed by a communicationsystem according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing operation performed by the communicationsystem according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing operation performed by the communicationsystem according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing operation performed by the communicationsystem according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing operation performed by the communicationsystem according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedhereinafter in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

A communication system according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention starts a communication by causing a switchboard to transmitinformation on addresses of switchboard terminals other than aswitchboard terminal of the switchboard, and the switchboard terminalthat has received the addresses to select a communication partner fromamong the switchboard terminals at the received addresses, and to passthe address of the selected switchboard terminal to independentgeneral-purpose P2P communication software incorporated in theswitchboard terminal.

Furthermore, while the switchboard terminal is holding a voicecommunication, a communication starts by passing address information ona voice output destination to the general-purpose communicationsoftware.

If the switchboard terminal separates from the P2P general-purposecommunication software and differs in address, a communication starts byregistering information for coupling them with each other in theswitchboard and passing the information to the switchboard terminal inresponse to a request from the switchboard terminal.

Moreover, if the switchboard terminal is holding a voice conference, acommunication starts by passing address information on a voiceconference partner to the switchboard terminal.

A configuration of the communication system using voice lines (i.e., aninternal voice line and an external voice line) and a LAN line in anoffice as shown in FIG. 1 will be described. It is assumed that acommunication method realized by the P2P communication software is avideo communication.

In the office, a voice switchboard 101 (hereinafter, simply“switchboard”) switching voice communication, a voice and video terminal102 used by a user A and connected to a LAN line, a voice and videoterminal 103 used by a user B and connected to the LAN line, a videoterminal 104 used by a user C and connected to the LAN line, a voiceterminal 107 connected to a voice internal line, a voice terminal 105used by a user D and connected to the LAN line, a video terminal 106connected to the LAN line, a CTI (Computer Telephony Integration) server109 connected to the switchboard 101 and realizing CTI, and a presenceserver 110 managing and notifying status information (presence) of theterminals 102 to 107 are present.

Further, the switchboard 101 is connected to a voice communicationnetwork 108 via a voice external line.

In this way, the switchboard 101 is connected to the voice communicationnetwork 108 and the terminals 102 to 107, and controls connection ofvoice communications held by the terminals 102 to 107.

The CTI server 109 mediates a communication between CTI client softwaremounted in each of the terminals 102 to 106 connected to the LAN lineand the switchboard 101.

The presence server 110 communicates with the switchboard 101 and theterminals 102 to 106 connected to the LAN line, constantly updates andholds the status information (presences) of the terminals 102 to 107,and transmits a notification to each of the terminals 102 to 106 and theswitchboard 101 in response to a request.

Referring now to FIG. 2, operations performed by respective constituentelements of each of the terminals 102 to 107 will be outlined. A userinterface (“I/F”) 201 receives input signals from a keyboard, a mouse orthe like and outputs video signals to a display. A voice source I/F 202transmits and receives voice data to and from a voice source 208connected to the voice source I/F 202. A voice internal line I/F 203transmits and receives signals to and from the voice communication line.A LAN line I/F 204 transmits and receives signals to and from the LANline. A CPU 205 controls entirety of the terminal. A memory 206 is usedas a work area when software or data necessary to control the terminalis used. A terminal software 211 is software stored in the memory 206and executed by the CPU 205. A video I/F 209 receives signals input froma video camera 210 connected to the video I/F 209.

Referring to FIG. 3, operations performed by respective constituentelements of the switchboard 101 will be outlined. A voice internal lineI/F 301 transmits and receives signals to and from the voicecommunication line. A LAN line I/F 302 transmits and receives signals toand from the LAN line. A voice external line I/F 303 transmits andreceives signals to and from the voice external line. A CPU 304 controlsentirety of the switchboard 101. A memory 305 is used as a work areawhen software or data necessary to control the switchboard 101 is used.A database 306 is an area for holding various setting data stored in thememory 305.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a module configuration of software211 stored in the memory 206 in each of the voice and video terminals102 and 103. Switchboard terminal software 402 and video communicationsoftware 408 are application software operating on an OS (OperatingSystem) 401.

The switchboard terminal software 402 is constituted by various softwaremodules. A switchboard I/F 403 controls communication with theswitchboard 101. A voice communication control unit 404 controls voicesignal communication by communicating with the voice source I/F 202, thevoice internal line I/F 203, and the LAN line I/F 204. A CTI server I/F405 controls communication with the CTI server 109 by communicating withthe LAN line I/F 204. A presence server I/F 406 controls communicationwith the presence server 110 by communicating with the LAN line I/F 204.User setting data 407 stores therein a user ID and a password of theuser of the terminal, information on a current communication partner andthe like.

The video communication software 408 is a general-purpose P2Pcommunication software and has a video communication capability to startcommunication between the terminals in which the video communicationsoftware is mounted, to transmit and receive video data, and to performa communication end processing in the first embodiment. The videocommunication software 408 includes a function of receiving addressinformation on a communication partner, i.e., the other software mountedin the same terminal, and starting a communication with the partneraccording to the address information.

FIG. 5 shows an example of contents of the database 306 stored in thememory 305 of the switchboard 101. In a “switchboard user ID” area 501,ID information on each of the users using the switchboard 101 is stored.In a “switchboard user password” area 502, a password corresponding tothe user ID is stored. In a “possible communication method: address:port” area 503, a possible communication method of the terminal used byeach user, an address of the terminal, and a port number used by thecommunication method in the terminal are stored. If the terminalsupports a plurality of communication methods, a plurality ofinformation is stored in the “possible communication method: address:port” area 503. In a “communication partner user ID” area 504, a user IDor an external line number of a communication partner is stored if theuser is holding a communication. In an “external line” area 505, thenumber of each voice external line connected to the switchboard 101 isstored. In a “communication partner number” area 506, a telephone numberof the communication partner on a voice external line having theexternal line number is stored.

FIG. 6 shows an example of contents of the terminal software 211 storedin the memory 206 of each of the voice and video terminals 102 and 103.In a “switchboard user ID” area 601, a switchboard user ID of a userusing the terminal 102 or 103 is stored. In a “switchboard userpassword” area 602, a password corresponding to the user ID is stored.In a “possible communication method: address: port” area 603, a possiblecommunicate method of the terminal, the address of the terminal, and theport number used by the communication method in the terminal are stored.If the terminal supports a plurality of communication methods, aplurality of information is stored per user ID. If the terminal isconnected to the voice line, an internal line number is stored in placeof the address and the port number. A “communication partner” area 604is an area in which information on the communication partner is storedduring a voice or video communication of the terminal. Namely, in the“communication partner” area 604, a user ID, an address, and a portnumber of the communication partner are stored. If the communicationpartner is a terminal that does not include a LAN line I/F and that isconnected to the voice line or a terminal that is connected to the voiceexternal line, an internal line number or an external line number isstored in the “communication partner” area 604 in place of the address,and the port number of the communication partner. In a “communicationdestination port initial value” area 605, a default destination portused if the communication port of the communication partner is unknownfor every communication method is stored.

Operation according to the first embodiment will be described.

First, an instance in which the user A starts a video communication withthe user B while the user A is not on the phone will be described withreference to the flowchart of FIG. 7.

It is assumed herein that only the address and the port for the voicecommunication are stored in the “possible communication method: address:port” area 603 in the terminal software 211 stored in the memory 206 ofeach of the voice and video terminals 102 and 103. It is also assumedthat the terminal configuration of each of the voice and video terminals102 and 103 is such that the voice internal line I/F 203 is not presentin the configuration of the voice and video terminal shown in FIG. 2.

First, the user A input a user ID and a password using the keyboard anddisplay 207 of the voice and video terminal 102. In response to theinput, the CPU 205 and the switchboard terminal software 402 operatingin the memory 206 receive information on the user ID and the password ofthe user A via the user I/F 201 and the OS 401, respectively. Further,the input user ID is stored in the “switchboard user ID” area 601 andthe password is stored in the “switchboard user password” area 602. Theuser ID and the password as well as the information stored in the“possible communication method: address: port” area 603 of the voice andvideo terminal 102 are passed to the OS 401 via the switchboard I/F 403,and transmitted to the switchboard 101 via the LAN I/F 204. Whenreceiving the information via the LAN line I/F 302, the switchboard 101searches the received user ID from the areas 501 in the database 306,and checks whether the password stored in the area 502 corresponding tothe hit area 501 is identical with the received password. If theswitchboard 101 confirms that the both passwords are identical, theswitchboard 101 stores the received information of “possiblecommunication method: address: port” in the corresponding area 503.Likewise, the user B registers the voice and video terminal 103 in theswitchboard 101 (step 701).

The user A performs an operation for calling a video communicationpartner list using the keyboard and display 207 of the voice and videoterminal 102. In response to the operation, a user list disclosurerequest is passed from the switchboard terminal software 402 to the OS401 via the switchboard I/F 403, and transmitted to the switchboard 101via the LAN I/F 204. When receiving the information via the LAN line I/F302, the switchboard 101 extracts all the information stored in“switchboard user ID” areas 501 and “possible communication method:address: port” areas 503 corresponding to all the users in the database306 included in the switchboard 101, and transmits the information tothe voice and video terminal 102. The switchboard I/F 403 of theswitchboard terminal software 402 in the voice and video terminal 102receives the information via the LAN line I/F 204 and the OS 401, andthe voice and video terminal 102 displays the information on the display207 via the user I/F 201 (step 702).

The user A performs an operation for selecting the video communicationpartner using the keyboard and display 207 of the voice and videoterminal 102. In response to the operation, the user ID of the selectedvideo communication partner is passed from the switchboard terminalsoftware 402 to the OS 401 via the switchboard I/F 403, and transmittedto the switchboard 101 via the LAN line I/F 204. When receiving theinformation via the LAN line I/F 302, the switchboard 101 searches thereceived user ID from the “switchboard user ID” areas 501 in thedatabase 306 of the switchboard 101, extracts information described inthe “possible communication method: address: port” area 503corresponding to the hit record (area 501), and transmits the extractedinformation to the voice and video terminal 102. The switchboard I/F 403of the switchboard terminal software 402 in the voice and video terminal102 receives the information via the LAN line I/F 204 and the OS 401(step 703).

The switchboard terminal software 402 checks the received possiblecommunication method, address, and port to confirm whether videocommunication is present in the area 603. In the first embodiment, sincethe address and the port for the video communication are not describedin the area 603, the switchboard terminal software 402 extracts only theaddress for the voice communication, extracts a video communication port(Port101) described in the “communication destination port initialvalue” area 605 as the port, and passes the address and the port to thevideo communication software 408. At the same time, the switchboardterminal software 402 writes contents of the information in the“communication partner” area 604 in the user setting data 211 as videocommunication partner information (step 704).

The video communication software 408 starts a video communication bysetting the received address and port as the communication destination(step 705).

In the first embodiment, it is assumed that only the address and theport for the voice communication are stored in the “possiblecommunication method: address: port” area 603 in the terminal software211 stored in the memory 206 of each of the voice and video terminals102 and 103. Alternatively, not only the address and the port for thevoice communication but also the address and the port for the videocommunication may be stored in the “possible communication method:address: port” area 603.

In this alternative, the user A can confirm whether the communicationpartner is a video-communicable terminal in advance at the step 703.Moreover, at the step 704, the switchboard terminal software 402 passesthe address and the port for the video communication among theinformation of the possible communication method, address, and portreceived from the switchboard 101 to the video communication software408. It is thereby possible for the terminal 102 to flexibly set thevideo communication port.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the P2P communication software hasbeen described while taking that for the video communication as anexample. However, as long as the software enables communication only byreceiving the address and the port, the software is not limited to thevideo communication software. By changing the video communicationsoftware 408 to arbitrary P2P communication software, the presentinvention is applicable to various communication methods such as mailcommunication, instant message communication, file sharingcommunication, whiteboard sharing communication, and application sharingcommunication.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the first embodiment, it is necessary for each user to manuallyselect the video communication partner by operating the terminal of theuser. However, during a conversation, the communication partner may beautomatically selected so as to be able to start a video communication.

An instance of automatically selecting the communication partner will bedescribed with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8.

It is assumed herein that the address and the port for the voicecommunication and those for the video communication are stored in the“possible communication method: address: port” area 603 of each of thevoice and video terminals 102 and 103.

A step 801 is the same as the step 701 according to the firstembodiment.

The voice and video terminal 102 transmits signals to the voice andvideo terminal 103 using the voice internal line, thereby establishing avoice communication. At this time, the address and the communicationmethod (voice communication) of the voice signal destination (i.e., theterminal of the voice communication partner) are stored in the“communication partner” area 604 in the user setting data 211. Further,the switchboard software 402 writes the user ID of the communicationpartner in the “communication partner user ID” area 504 corresponding toeach user in the database 306 of the switchboard 101 (step 802).

The user A performs an operation for staring a video communication withthe current voice communication partner using the keyboard and display207 of the voice and video terminal 102. In response to the operation, acurrent communication partner information request is passed from theswitchboard terminal software 402 to the OS 401 via the switchboard I/F403, and transmitted to the switchboard 101 via the LAN line I/F 204.When receiving the current communication partner information request viathe LAN line I/F 302, the switchboard 101 reads information described inthe “communication partner user ID” area 504 corresponding to the user Ain the database 306, and searches the “switchboard user ID” area 501corresponding to the user ID described in the area 504. Further, theswitchboard 101 extracts the possible communication method, address, andport from the “possible communication method: address: port” area 503corresponding to the hit area 501, and transmits the extractedinformation to the voice and video terminal 102. The switchboard I/F 403of the switchboard terminal software 402 of the voice and video terminal102 receives the information via the LAN line I/F 204 and the OS 401(step 803).

The switchboard terminal software 402 checks the received possiblecommunication method, address, and port, and confirms whether the videocommunication is present in the “possible communication method: address:port” area 503. If the video communication is present, the switchboardterminal software 402 passes the address and the port for the videocommunication to the video communication software 408, and at the sametime, writes contents of the address and the port for the videocommunication in the “communication partner” area 604 in the usersetting data 211 stored in the voice and video terminal 102 as the videocommunication partner information (step 804).

The video communication software 408 starts a video communication whilesetting the received address and port as the communication destination(step 805).

In the second embodiment, the switchboard 101 is inquired about thecommunication partner information at the step 803. Alternatively, if thecommunication partner information stored in the terminal 102 is used,there is no need to inquire the switchboard 101 about the communicationpartner information.

In this alternative, the switchboard terminal software 402 reads theinformation described in the “communication partner” area 604 in theuser setting data 211 at the step 803. The switchboard terminal software402 passes the address and the port described in the area 604 to thevideo communication software 408 at the step 804. It is thereby possibleto control the video communication without using the switchboard 101 atall.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the preceding first and second embodiments, the voice terminal isidentical with the video terminal and the voice and video terminals havethe same address. However, the video terminal and the voice and videoterminals may be different terminals.

An instance in which the video terminal and the voice and videoterminals are different will be described with reference to theflowchart of FIG. 9.

It is assumed herein that the address and the port for the videocommunication are stored in the “possible communication method: address:port” area 603 of each of the video terminals 104 and 106, that theaddress and the port for the voice communication are stored in the“possible communication method: address: port” area 603 of the videoterminal 105, and that the “possible communication method: address:port” area 603 of the voice terminal 107 is blank. It is also assumedthat the internal line number of the voice terminal 107 is set in the“possible communication method: address: port” area 503 corresponding tothe user C described in the “user ID area” 501 of the database 306 ofthe switchboard 101, as the address for the voice communication inadvance, and that no port is described in the same “possiblecommunication method: address: port” area 503. It is further assumedthat the voice terminal 107 is already activated and on standby.

Moreover, it is assumed that the terminal configuration of each of thevideo terminals 104 and 106 is such that the voice internal line I/F 203and the voice source I/F 202 are not present in the configuration of thevoice and video terminal shown in FIG. 2, the terminal configuration ofthe voice terminal 105 is such that the voice internal line I/F 203 andthe video I/F 209 are not present in the configuration of the voice andvideo terminal shown in FIG. 2, and that the terminal configuration ofthe voice terminal 107 is such that the video I/F 209 and the LAN lineI/F 204 are not present in the configuration of the voice and videoterminal shown in FIG. 2.

First, the user C registers the video terminal 104 and the voiceterminal 107 in the switchboard 101, and the user D registers the voiceterminal 105 and the video terminal 106 in the switchboard 101 usingtheir respective user IDs and passwords, respectively through proceduressimilar to that of the step 701 in the first embodiment (step 901).

The voice terminal 107 transmits signals to the voice terminal 105 usingthe voice internal line, thereby establishing a voice communication. Atthis time, the address and the communication method (voicecommunication) of the voice signal destination (i.e., the terminal ofthe voice communication partner) are stored in the “communicationpartner” area 604 in the user setting data 211 stored in the terminal107. Further, the switchboard software 402 writes the user ID of thecommunication partner in the “communication partner user ID” area 504corresponding to each of the users C and D in the database 306 of theswitchboard 101 when establishing the voice communication between them(step 902).

The user C performs an operation for staring a video communication withthe current voice communication partner using the keyboard and display207 of the voice and video terminal 104 (step 903).

In response to the operation, the switchboard terminal software 402passes a current communication partner information request to the OS 401via the switchboard I/F 403, and the current communication partnerinformation request is transmitted to the switchboard 101 via the LANline I/F 204. When receiving the current communication partnerinformation request via the LAN line I/F 302, the switchboard 101 readsinformation described in the “communication partner user ID” area 504corresponding to the user C in the database 306, and searches the“switchboard user ID” area 501 corresponding to the user ID described inthe area 504. Further, the switchboard 101 extracts the possiblecommunication method, address, and port from the “possible communicationmethod: address: port” area 503 corresponding to the hit area 501, andtransmits the extracted information to the video terminal 104. Theswitchboard I/F 403 of the switchboard terminal software 402 of thevideo terminal 104 receives the information via the LAN line I/F 204 andthe OS 401 (step 904).

The switchboard terminal software 402 checks the received possiblecommunication method, address, and port, and confirms whether the videocommunication is present in the “possible communication method: address:port” area 503. If the video communication is present, the switchboardterminal software 402 passes the address and the port for the videocommunication to the video communication software 408, and at the sametime, writes contents of the address and the port for the videocommunication in the “communication partner” area 604 in the usersetting data 211 stored in the video terminal 104 as the videocommunication partner information (step 905).

The video communication software 408 starts a video communication whilesetting the received address and port as the communication destination(step 906).

Fourth Embodiment

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the preceding first to third embodiments, the address and the port ofthe communication partner are passed to the video communication software408 at the start of the video communication, and the video communicationsoftware 408 is entrusted with the subsequent video communicationcontrol. Due to this, even if the voice communication is finished, theuser is forced to manually instruct the video communication software 408for the video communication. Alternatively, the switchboard terminalsoftware 402 may detect end of the voice communication using the CTIserver I/F 405, and instruct the video communication software 408 tofinish a video communication, thereby automatically finishing the videocommunication simultaneously with the end of the voice communication.

An instance of automatically finishing the video communicationsimultaneously with the end of the voice communication using the CTIserver I/F 405 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.10.

It is assumed herein that the switchboard terminal software 402 of thevideo terminal 104 is connected to the CTI server 109 via the CTI serverI/F 405 and that the voice terminal 107 is registered as a CTI controltarget. It is also assumed that the CTI server 109 acquires a status(presence) of the voice terminal 107 by communicating with the voiceswitchboard 101 and transmits the status information to the CTI serverI/F 405 of the video terminal 104. Further, it is assumed that all theprocedures at the steps 901 to 906 are already carried out.

First, a voice communication between the voice terminal 107 of the userC and the voice terminal 105 of the user D is finished (step 1001).

The switchboard 101 notifies the CTI server 109 of the end of the voicecommunication between the voice terminals 105 and 107 via the LAN lineI/F 302 simultaneously with the end of the voice communication. The CTIserver 109 notifies the CTI server I/F 405 of the video terminal 104that the voice terminal 107 finishes the voice communication (step1002).

The switchboard terminal software 402 of the video terminal 104 readsvideo communication partner information from the “communication partner”area 604 corresponding to the user C in the user setting data 211,deletes the information from the area 604, and then passes a videocommunication end instruction as well as the information to the videocommunication software 408 (step 1003).

The video communication software 408 finishes the video communicationfor which the received address and port are set as the communicationdestination (step 1004).

Fifth Embodiment

A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the fourth embodiment, the switchboard terminal software 402 detectsthe end of the voice communication by using the CTI server I/F 405.Alternatively, the switchboard terminal software 402 may detect the endof the voice communication using the presence server I/F 406, andinstruct the video communication software 408 to finish a videocommunication, thereby automatically finishing the video communicationsimultaneously with the end of the voice communication.

An instance of automatically finishing the video communicationsimultaneously with the end of the voice communication using thepresence server I/F 406 will be described with reference to theflowchart of FIG. 11.

It is assumed herein that the switchboard terminal software 402 of thevideo terminal 104 is connected to the presence server 110 via thepresence server I/F 406 and that the voice terminal 107 is registered asa presence watching target. It is also assumed that the presence server110 acquires a status (presence) of the voice terminal 107 bycommunicating with the switchboard 101 and transmits the statusinformation to the presence server I/F 406 of the video terminal 104.Further, it is assumed that all the procedures at the steps 901 to 906are already carried out.

First, a voice communication between the voice terminal 107 of the userC and the voice terminal 105 of the user D is finished (step 1101).

The switchboard 101 notifies the presence server 110 that the presenceof the voice terminal 107 changes from a state of holding a voicecommunication to a standby state, via the LAN line I/F 302simultaneously with the end of the voice communication. The presenceserver 110 notifies the presence server I/F 406 of the video terminal104 that the voice terminal 107 finishes the voice communication (step1102).

The switchboard terminal software 402 of the video terminal 104 regardsthe information as the end of the voice communication, reads videocommunication partner information from the “communication partner” area604 corresponding to the user C in the user setting data 211, deletesthe information from the area 604, and then passes a video communicationend instruction as well as the information to the video communicationsoftware 408 (step 1103).

The video communication software 408 finishes the video communicationfor which the received address and port are set as the communicationdestination (step 1104).

Sixth Embodiment

In the preceding first to fifth embodiments, one-to-one voice or videocommunication is held. Alternatively, a video conference communicationmay be held by interlocking the voice or video communication with avoice conference by a plurality of terminals.

An instance of holding a video conference communication will bedescribed with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 12.

It is assumed herein that the address and the port for the voicecommunication and the address and the port for the video communicationare stored in the “possible communication method: address: port” area603 of the voice and video terminal 102, that the address and the portfor the video communication are stored in the “possible communicationmethod: address: port” area 603 of each of the video terminals 104 and106, that the address and the port for the voice communication arestored in the “possible communication method: address: port” area 603 ofthe voice terminal 105, and that the “possible communication method:address: port” area 603 of the voice terminal 107 is blank. It is alsoassumed that the internal line number of the voice terminal 107 is setin the “possible communication method: address: port” area 503corresponding to the user C described in the “user ID area” 501 of thedatabase 306 of the switchboard 101, as the address for the voicecommunication in advance, and that no port is described in the same“possible communication method: address: port” area 503. It is furtherassumed that the voice terminal 107 is already activated and on standby.Further, it is assumed that the video communication software 408 cansimultaneously hold video communications with a plurality ofcommunication partners.

Moreover, it is assumed that the terminal configuration of each of thevideo terminals 104 and 106 is such that the voice internal line I/F 203and the voice source I/F 202 are not present in the configuration of thevoice and video terminal shown in FIG. 2, the terminal configuration ofthe voice terminal 105 is such that the voice internal line I/F 203 andthe video I/F 209 are not present in the configuration of the voice andvideo terminal shown in FIG. 2, and that the terminal configuration ofthe voice terminal 107 is such that the video I/F 209 and the LAN lineI/F 204 are not present in the configuration of the voice and videoterminal shown in FIG. 2.

First, the user A registers the voice and video terminal 102, the user Cregisters the video terminal 104 and the voice terminal 107, and theuser D registers the voice terminal 105 and the video terminal 106 inthe switchboard 101 using their respective user IDs and passwords,respectively through procedures similar to that of the step 701 in thefirst embodiment (step 1201).

A conference communication is established among the voice and videoterminal 102, the voice terminal 107, and the voice terminal 105. Atthis time, the addresses and the communication methods (voicecommunication) of the voice signal destinations (i.e., the terminals ofthe voice communication partners) are stored in the “communicationpartner” area 604 in the user setting data 211 in each of the terminals102, 105, and 107. Further, the switchboard software 402 of each of theterminals 102, 105, and 107 writes the user IDs of the communicationpartners in the “communication partner user ID” area 504 correspondingto each of the users A, C, and D in the database 306 of the switchboard101 when the conference communication is held among them (step 1202).

The user C performs an operation for staring a video communication withthe current voice communication partners using the keyboard and display207 of the voice and video terminal 104 (step 1203).

In response to the operation, the switchboard terminal software 402 ofthe voice and video terminal 104 passes a current communication partnerinformation request to the OS 401 via the switchboard I/F 403, and thecurrent communication partner information request is transmitted to theswitchboard 101 via the LAN line I/F 204. When receiving the currentcommunication partner information request via the LAN line I/F 302, theswitchboard 101 reads information described in the “communicationpartner user ID” area 504 corresponding to the user C in the database306, and searches a plurality of “switchboard user ID” areas 501corresponding to the user IDs described in the areas 504, respectively.Further, the switchboard 101 extracts the possible communicationmethods, addresses, and ports from the “possible communication method:address: port” areas 503 corresponding to the hit plural areas 501, andtransmits all the extracted information as well as the user IDs to thevideo terminal 104.

The switchboard I/F 403 of the switchboard terminal software 402 of thevideo terminal 104 receives the information via the LAN line I/F 204 andthe OS 401 (step 1204).

The switchboard terminal software 402 checks all the received possiblecommunication methods, addresses, and ports, and confirms whether thevideo communication is present in each of the “possible communicationmethod: address: port” areas 503. If the video communication is presentin each of the “possible communication method: address: port” areas 503,the switchboard terminal software 402 displays the user IDs of aplurality of video-communicable video communication partner candidateson the display 207 via the user I/F 201. Thereafter, the user C performsan operation for selecting an arbitrary video communication partner fromamong the displayed user IDs using the keyboard and display 207 of thevideo terminal 104 (step 1205).

In response to the selection operation, the switchboard terminalsoftware 402 passes the address and the port of the selected user ID forthe video communication to the video communication software 408, and atthe same time, writes contents of the address and the port for the videocommunication in the “communication partner” area 604 in the usersetting data 604 stored in the video terminal 104 as the videocommunication partner information (step 1206).

The video communication software 408 starts a video communication whilesetting the received address and port as the communication destination(step 1207).

The user C can additionally perform the operation for selecting a videocommunication partner from among the displayed user IDs using thekeyboard and display 207 of the video terminal 104 if the user wants tohold a video communication with another user. In this case, theprocedures at the steps 1206 to 1208 are repeatedly carried out wheneverthe selection operation is performed (step 1208).

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed in detail, it should be understood that various changes,substitutions and alternatives can be made therein without departingfrom the sprit and scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims. Further, it is the inventor's intent to retain all equivalentsof the claimed invention even if the claims are amended duringprosecution.

What is claimed is:
 1. A communication system including a plurality ofterminals and a switchboard connected to the terminals, comprising:means for causing each of the terminals to register one or morecommunication types which are executable on the terminal, an address ofthe terminal corresponding to said one or more communication types, oneor more port numbers respectively corresponding to said one or morecommunication types, with the switchboard, while correlating said one ormore communication types, said address and said one or more port numbersto an identifier of a user of the terminal; means for, when one terminalamong the terminals transmits a request for transmitting a listincluding at least the identifiers of the users, causing the switchboardto transmit the list to said one terminal; means for, when said oneterminal selects one of the identifiers of the users from the receivedlist and transmits the selected identifier of the user to theswitchboard, causing the switchboard to transmit, to said one terminal,said one or more communication types, said address and said one or moreport numbers, which are correlated to the selected identifier of theuser; and means for causing said one terminal to select a port numberand establish a communication with the terminal having the address whichcorresponds to the selected identifier of the user and has beentransmitted from the switchboard to said one terminal using the selectedport number, wherein if said one or more communication types which arecorrelated to the selected identifier of the user and have beentransmitted from the switchboard to said one terminal include acommunication type which is requested to be started, said selected portnumber is the port number which corresponds to the communication typewhich is requested to be started with respect to the selected identifierof the user and has been transmitted from the switchboard to said oneterminal.
 2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein ifsaid one or more communication types which are correlated to theselected identifier of the user and have been transmitted from theswitchboard to said one terminal do not include a communication typewhich is requested to be started, the selected port number is a defaultport number which corresponds to the communication type which isrequested to be started with respect to the selected identifier of theuser.
 3. A communication method in a communication system including aplurality of terminals and a switchboard connected to the terminals,said method comprising the steps of: causing each of the terminals toregister one or more communication types which are executable on theterminal, an address of the terminal corresponding to said one or morecommunication types, one or more port numbers respectively correspondingto said one or more communication types, with the switchboard, whilecorrelating said one or more communication types, said address and saidone or more port numbers to an identifier of a user of the terminal;when one terminal among the terminals transmits a request fortransmitting a list including at least the identifiers of the users,causing the switchboard to transmit the list to said one terminal; whensaid one terminal selects one of the identifiers of the users from thereceived list and transmits the selected identifier of the user to theswitchboard, causing the switchboard to transmit, to said one terminal,said one or more communication types, said address and said one or moreport numbers, which are correlated to the selected identifier of theuser; and causing said one terminal to select a port number andestablish a communication with the terminal having the address whichcorresponds to the selected identifier of the user and has beentransmitted from the switchboard to said one terminal using the selectedport number, wherein if said one or more communication types which arecorrelated to the selected identifier of the user and have beentransmitted from the switchboard to said one terminal include acommunication type which is requested to be started, said selected portnumber is the port number which corresponds to the communication typewhich is requested to be started with respect to the selected identifierof the user and has been transmitted from the switchboard to said oneterminal.
 4. The communication method according to claim 3, wherein ifsaid one or more communication types which are correlated to theselected identifier of the user and have been transmitted from theswitchboard to said one terminal do not include a communication typewhich is requested to be started, the selected port number is a defaultport number which corresponds to the communication type which isrequested to be started with respect to the selected identifier of theuser.